LAVERTY GETS DIALLED IN AND PROMISES MORE Results Free practice one: 1: Shane Byrne (Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki) 49.510s 2: Tommy Hill (Swan Yamaha) +0.179s 3: Michael Laverty (Samsung Honda) +0.295s 4: Josh Brookes (Tyco Suzuki) +0.403s 5: Tristan Palmer (GBmoto Honda) +0.508s 6: Alastair Seeley (Tyco Suzuki) +0.575s Free practice two: 1: Michael Laverty (Samsung Honda) 49.443s 2: Shane Byrne (Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki) +0.261s 3: Tommy Hill (Swan Yamaha) +0.358s 4: Josh Brookes (Tyco Suzuki) +0.405s 5: Alex Lowes (WFR Honda) +0.482ss 6: Alastair Seeley (Tyco Suzuki) +0.543s Report Michael Laverty is aiming high in the Scottish fifth round of the MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship at Knockhill to build on the spectacular turn around in fortunes he enjoyed in the previous round at Snetterton. The Samsung Honda rider ended a disappointing run of form at the Norfolk circuit with a second place and a victory as the team finally solved the issues that had troubled Laverty and now the Ulsterman is dialled in for more strong results to close in on the three riders currently heading the overall standings. Laverty said: “The bike is feeling really good we came here strong from Snetterton and have made a few little tweaks so we are right in the ball park. Now we have to work hard at consistency and keep chipping away. We have already done a race distance run with good lap times so it is looking good. “I’m feeling confident we can progress further and it is good to have a gap over the rest and to know that we can still improve,” added Laverty who had outpaced the former two times winner of the crown Shane ‘Shakey’ Byrne riding the Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki by 0.261 seconds. Tommy Hill set the third fastest time aboard the Swan Yamaha as he aims to overhaul the single point deficit he currently has on standings leading Aussie Josh Brookes who set the fourth best time on his Tyco Suzuki. Chris Walker, one of the seven riders who has so far celebrated victory in this highly competitive series, however will miss this round having crashed during the morning free practice session in which he suffered suspected fractures to both heels. For more information please visit www.britishsuperbike.com More, from a press release issued by Swan Yamaha: SWAN YAMAHA TARGETING SCOTTISH SUCCESS AFTER FREE PRACTICE The Swan Yamaha team got the fifth round of the MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship at Knockhill underway today with the opening two free practice sessions at the Fife circuit. In drying conditions defending champion Tommy Hill clocked the third fastest time after heading the timesheets earlier in the second session as he bids to repeat his double victory from last year. Noriyuki Haga made his circuit debut this morning and already is confident that with improvements tomorrow he will be ready to challenge in qualifying. Hill said: “It has been a good day and I have been feeling comfortable and also confident with the Swan Yamaha. It has been a few weeks off the bike and this morning we got back into the groove. We have a good set up in the dry today and we led most of the second session before we got pipped at the end but there was the usual traffic out on circuit but we do expect that here. We have a few changes to make before qualifying but they are relevant for the whole lap so hopefully the weather will stay consistent and we can have a strong performance in qualifying tomorrow.” Haga said: “I am lucky because I had dry conditions in both sessions and that was good for me as it was my first time here to learn the circuit. I already have learnt the circuit and I have really enjoyed the track. My Swan Yamaha is also working really well and I have already found the next step we need to make a change to the setting to improve for qualifying. We hope that it can stay dry tomorrow to test this but we don’t know if the conditions will stay the same. The lap times are not far away from the top so I just need to keep giving it more gas tomorrow.” For more information visit www.swanyamaha.co.uk